First of all, we’re all okay.
The Santiago Fire approaching Modjeska Grade Road in Orange Co.
Photo courtesy of Sue Trevor
The same home the next day.
Photo courtesy of Sue Trevor
Mardi and I want to thank all of our friends and family that have shown so much concern for us and our safety over the past week or so. Your concern is a great comfort and reminder of the great network of folks that we call our friends. Thank you again.
For those of you that we’ve not been able to talk with, I thought I’d bring you up to date on what’s happening with us and the fires.
The fire affecting us the most is the Santiago Fire in Orange Co. The OC Register has a great map showing the fire and its current state. It came to within about 5 miles of our home on Sunday night, but was turned by the OC Fire Department Sunday p.m. / Monday a.m. more towards the south away from the heavily populated areas.
Santiago Fire, Orange Co., Thursday, October 25th, 2007
Photo courtesy OC Register
Unfortunately, the fire was caused by arson, and it has burned some of the most beautiful and wonderful hiking and natural areas remaining in this heavily developed area.
Whiting Ranch Park, December 2006
Photo: Jonathan Hasson
Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Parks were wonderful places. In fact, we have many photos from some hikes in Whiting Ranch Park (click the link to go see them). It makes us ill.
The smoke in the air is the worst.
I’ve been out of town all week, but Mardi, the girls and Mardi’s mom have been having to deal with the unhealthy air since Sunday. The best way to describe it is that is seems like you are standing downwind of a campfire and you can’t move out of the smoke trail. Eyes are burning, noses are burning and allergies are going nuts. All the kids are being kept indoors at school, and people are encouraged to “shelter at home” the rest of the time, meaning don’t open doors or windows at any time. This sounds reasonable, but when you don’t have air conditioning and the temperatures are driven up to 97 degrees by the hot Santa Ana winds, life really is miserable.
Our 3 year Clara made an observation well beyond her years this morning when she stated that the morning sun looked like a sunset. The sky is an eerie orange/brown color. The view from this morning is shown below.
Morning in Orange County, Thursday, October 25th, 2007
Photo courtesy OC Register
We are hopeful that the literal winds of change will start blowing today. Mardi tells me that the Santa Anas have ended, but the cooling sea breezes have yet to start blowing. We can pray for relief!
Several national and local websites have some great maps that are updated regularly showing the extent of the fires. Here are some that I am following:
- NY Times: A great time-denoted graphic showing how the fires spread over time starting this past weekend.
- OC Register: A regularly updated graphic of the Santiago Fire
- KPBS: A really great graphic showing all of the San Diego County fires. The extent of these fires are humbling. They moved so quickly.
We’ll keep you updated. Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks.